Feed mechanism for sewing-machines.



PATENTED APR. 11,1905.

v F. W.- MERR'IGK. FBED' MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25,1904.

{Q z/e eor VL C/Qi-Orne' UNITED STATES Patented April 11, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK W. MERRIOK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FEED MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,909, dated April11, 1905.

Application filed Tune 25, 1904. Serial No. 214,089.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, FRANK W. MnRRIoK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts,have invented-a certain new and useful Improvement in Feed Mechanismsfor Sewing-Machines,of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention has relation to feed mechanism for sewing-machines, andmore particularly to awl-feed or needle-feed mechanisms on the order ofthose which are employed in hook needle wax thread sewing machines.Ordinarily a feed mechanism of this order is provided with a feed-postmounted with capacity to swing about a pivotal axis, the said feed-posthaving guides within which the awlbar or needle-bar is reciprocatedendwise in well-known manner to cause the awl or needle to enter thestock or material which is being stitched and withdraw therefrom. Forthe purposes of the feed the said feed-post is caused to swing about thesaid pivotal axis in the direction of the feed, while the awl or needleremains entered within the said stock or ma-. terial, so as to advancethe stock or material by reason of the engagement of the awl or needletherewith. The swinging movement of the feed-post about a pivotal axishas the drawback or disadvantage that thereby the awl or needle iscaused to change its angle or incli nation with respect to the verticalwhile within the stock or material in consequence of entering the latterat an angle or inclination and being swung into a vertical positionbefore being withdrawn, or vice versa. This change in the angle orinclination of the awl or needle While occupying the hole which has beenpierced through the stock or material being stitched operates to enlargeor distort the said hole as well as to spring or bend the awl or needle.The enlargement or distortion of the hole in the stock or material marsthe appearance of the finished work. The springing or bending of the awlor needle results frequently in breakage thereof. When working with along feed upon material of considerable thickness in two or more layerslying one upon the other, the change in the angle or inclination of theawl or needle which is incident to the swinging movement thereof in thefeed movement frequently causes one layer of the said material toadvance more rapidly than another, thereby producing a displacement ofone layer with relation to another in the "direction of the length ofthe layers, so that their latter ends do not come out even.

The object, in general, of the invention is to produce a feed mechanismwhich shall possess all of the advantages of the pivotally-mountedfeed-post, while free from the disadvantages of the latter when arrangedas heretofore.

More specifically, a .main object of the invention is to provideimproved means for causing the awl or needle in effecting the feedtoremain parallel with the path of its endwise movement. I The inventionin the best form of embodiment which I have thus far devised is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows, partly infront elevation:

but mainly in vertical section, portion of a sewing-machine havingapplied thereto an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is an endelevation thereof looking from the left-hand side in Fig. 1, partlysectional. Fig. 3 is a partly-sectional detail showing chiefly theadjustable hearings in connection with the crosshead and its supportsupon the rockers.

Having reference to the drawings, the fixed casing of a sewing-machineis shown at A. For convenience I have illustrated a needlefeedmechanism, although the invention is equally applicable in the case ofan awl-feed mechanism. A hooked needle of usual character is representedat 1, and 2 is the needle bar. Theneedle-bar is fitted between guides ofusual character that are provided upon a cross-head 3. The saidcross-head fulfils the functions of the usual feed-post. To theneedle-bar 2 endwise movements between the said guides are communicatedby actuating-mechanism of suitable character, and thereby the needle iscaused to enter and withdraw from the stock. The mechanism shown in thedrawings mayor may not be employed, as preferred, the same consisting ofa rotating shaft 8, of which only a portion is represented, a

disk 81 on one extremity of the said shaft, a

crank-pin 82, carried by the said disk, and a link 83, joining the saidcrank-pin with a pin 84, projecting from the needle-bar through avertical slot 85 in the cross-head. In the case of an awl-feed mechanisman awl and awl-bar will be substituted in lieu of the needle andneedle-bar. For the purpose of supporting the cross head, communicatingtransverse feed movements thereto, and controlling its position duringthe movements which are communicated thereto I employ a pair of rockers,which respectively are designated 4 and 5. The cross-head 3 is connectedpivotally, as by studs 31 31, projecting laterally therefrom, to arms 4252 of the said rockers. To guard against lateral tipping of thecrosshead and to support it steadily at all times.

during operation, as well as prevent cramping or binding and wear at thepivotal connections, each rocker is provided with two of the arms 42 or52, (see Figs. 1 and 3,) the two arms of each rocker being separatedfrom each other by a short distance in the direction of the length ofthe rockers and both of such arms being furnished with bearings, towhich the corresponding stud 31 is fitted. The bearings are interiorlytapering, as shown best by Fig. 3, and the studs are shown furnishedwith cones 32 33 to fit the tapered bearings, the right-hand cone 33 ofeach stud being longitudinally adjustable upon the stud. The saidadjustment is provided for by screw-threading the free extremity of thestud and interiorly threading the cone 33 to fit the said screw-threadedextremity, a check-nut 35 being applied to prevent accidental loss ofadjustment. This capacity of the cone 33 for adjustment enables a properfit of the cones and bearings of the stud to each other to be securedand in addition to enable wear to be taken up. The axes of the rockersare parallel with each other. Those of the studs 31 31 are equidistantfrom and parallel with the axes of the respective rockers and also arelocated at the same distance apart as the latter. It Will therefore beapparent that the rockers constitute parallel-motion connections for thecross-head in which the needle-bar or awl-bar moves, operating on theprinciple of parallel links to keep the needle-bar or awl-bar parallelwith the path of its endwise movements at all times during the feedmovements. For the purpose of occasioning the feed movements of theneedle or awl the rockers are vibrated in unison about their axes bymeans of motion-transmitting connections which are combined therewith. Ihave shown for the purpose the rockers as provided at their righthandextremities in Fig. 1 with arms 43, the latter arms of the two rockersbeing connected with each other by a link 44, which is shown in Fig. 2by dotted lines. To the said link is pivoted at 45, Fig. 2, the lowerextremity of a suitable feed-lever 50, the latter having a forked upperextremity which fits a cam 6, that is fast upon the main or drivingshaft 7 of the machine to which the invention is ap plied. Only aportion of shaft 7 is represented in the drawings. Lever 5 is slottedlongitudinally at 51, Fig. 2, through an intermediate portion of itslength, and within the slot is received a block 53, the latter capableof swiveling upon a pivot-pin 54, which is carried by a lever 55. Thesaid lever 55 is pivotally mounted at 56 upon a portion 57, Fig. 1, ofthe fixed framework. It constitutes an adjustable fLllCl'llHl-SIIPDOIDfor the feed-lever. By the rotation of the cam 6 the feed-lever 50 isvibrated about the pivot at 54, and through the connection between thelower extremity of the feed-lever and the link 44, joining the arms 4343 of the rockers, the latter are vibrated, thereby producing the feedmovements. To adjust the extentof the latter, the lever 55 isswungaround its pivot at 56, thereby moving the pivot 54 so as to varythe relative length of the upper and lower arms of the feed-lever, aswill be well understood by those who are skilled in the art.

As already has been indicated herein, the invention is equally asapplicable in the case of an awl-feed mechanism as in that of aneedlefeed mechanism. For the purposes of theinvention the awl andneedle are equivalents. Therefore, although in order to avoidalternativeness of expression I make reference to only the needle in myclaims, I regard a feed mechanism in which the awl is the immediateelement which acts to advance the stock or material being stitched asembraced fully within the scope of the invention that is covered by theclaims.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a feed mechanism for sewing-machines, thecombination with the needle, its bar, and the cross-head having theguides for the said bar, of the parallel rockers constituting swingingsupports for the said cross-head, and means to communicate feedmovements to the said parts.

2. In a feed mechanism forsewing-maehincs, the combination with theneedle, its bar, and the cross-head having the guides for the said bar,of the parallel rockers constituting swinging supports for the saidcross-head, a link connecting the said rockers, a feed-lever engagingthe said link, and actuating means for the said feed-lever.

3. In afeed mechanism for sewing-machines, the combination with theneedle, its bar, and the cross-head having the guides for the said bar,and provided with the studs projecting laterally therefrom, of theparallel rockers constituting swinging supports for the said cross-headeach having separated bearings for the corresponding stud, and means tocommunicate feed movements to the said parts.

4. In a feed mechanism for sewing-machines, In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature in the combination with the needle, its bar, and presenceof two Witnesses. the movable guide for the said bar, of parallelmotionlinks connected with said movable FRANK MERRICK' 5 guide andconstituting swinging supports Witnesses:

therefor, and means to communicate feed CHAS. F. RANDALL,

movements to the said parts. EDITH J ANDERSON.

